Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-21
THE FOURTH LECTURE
OF THE LRNTEN COURSE, DELIVERED BY
BISHOP KAHN, YESTERDAY.
He Urges the Importance Of Determining Which
is the True Church Of
Jesus Christ

III ECNlLuluSs 80 N'N VAN eHJ'
of his Lenten Lectures, Bishop Kahn re-
called in a few words the progress so far
made. Mans need of a Redeemer had
been explained, and the character and
work of the Divine Mediator clearly set
forth. The means ordained by the
Saviour, by which men were to participate
in the benefit of redemption, was the
Church, as had been shown in a previous
lecture. The two-fold Office Of
Christ's Church was 20 teach the
doctrines of revelation, and administer
the graces necessary for the cleansing and
sa~nctifying of the sinner. Therefore the
Church enters substantially into the econ
omy of salvation, since it is through the
Church that men are to know the truths
revealed by God, and through the Church
that they are to receive the graces pur-
chased for them by their Divine Redeemer.
Hence the importance of a~scertaining
which, among the claimants to that glori-
Gus title, is the true Church of Jesus
Christ What say the Holy Scriptures of
the ~prerogatiyes and characteristics of that
Church? Must not a correct knowledge of
the nature and mission of the Church
spoken ofin His word, guide us safely in
our investigation of this all-vital question?
1t is difficult to imagine how any one,
who accepts the inspiration OF the New
Testament, can doubt that the chief pur-
pose of that Church which is described IN
such glowing language upon those sacred
pages is to teach in Christ's name the doc
! trines of divine revelation. 1t is a living,
speaking organism, having its authority TO
teach from God Himself; therefore
it's doctrinal utterances must De
unerringly true. Where is such
a Church to be found! Wherever
it is. it must be one, not multifOrm. This
unity, so fOrcibly insisted on IN the bipie'
must be not only exterior, making tne
church one sheepfold under one shepherd,
one kingdom the keys of which, designating
the supreme power, must be in the hands
of one ruler; but that unity must also De
interior, cementing together the minus
and and hearts of all its member In the
profession of one same faith ana the re-
ception of the same sacraments, or means
of grace. All Christians seem to yearn
for such unity; does it not already exist
if the true Church OF Christ continues to
exist?
Holiness is another characteristic OF that
church, and from apostolic times Christians
have professed to believe in one holy
Church, Church therefore whose doc
trines and practices lead TO holiness, and
whose sacred ministrations impart real
s~anctity to the soul. No such true sane
tity. which is q real participation OF the
sanctity of our Blessed Redeemer, enters
into the idea of a mere exterior Justlhca-
ton which simply cloaks over the SIN
ner's ~foulness with the merits OF
Christ. Another note or mark of Chrlsts
true Church is Catholicity, which means
that everywhere and in all ages that Church
is fulfilling the work eniOined upon it
teaching all truth. Likewise must the
true Church trace back its origin to the
Apostles of Christ, so that any Church or
ganiZatiOn formed since the Apostolic days
cannot be the Church described in the
sacred Scriptures as founded on the Apos-
ties" Still another attribute of the true
| Church is its indefectibility; for Christ has
solemnly promised that 1.-THE gates Of hell
shall never prevail against His Church
Being God, He will keep that solemn
promise.
That all these characteristics apply to
the Catholic Church alone, we shall show
later on. Here, continued the Bishop, we
may ask a few pertinent questions sug-
gested By even n cursOry study of this all
important subject. Is there any other
Church except ours, old enough 10 claim
Christ rs its founder? Do we not know
from history the man who fashioned each
rival claimant?
Is it not clear from Holy Scripture that
Christ founded His Church on Peter; that
to Peter He gave the keys OF authority in
His Church; that he appointed Peter
the visible shepherd of his lambs
and sheep? To what other than
the Catholic Church does all this
apply, since in it Peter, in his sue
cessOrs, has continued to discharge the
office conferred on him by Christ? Does
any other Church even pretend to exercise
the authority conveyed by Christ to teach
all nations in His name? Is it not the
Catholic Church alone that has verified
that commission by converting all the ma
tons that have ever tOrsaken paganism for
Christianity? Can any other church amass
such cumulative evidence of her divine
origin and authority?
This subject, the Bishop announced, will
I've continued next Sunday afternoon.